Marin Robu is confident of regaining his best form before the World Cup // Photo: instagram.com
The weightlifter told about the intensive preparation for the world championship, which he had spent in the training room since the beginning of summer. He spent the whole preparatory cycle at the base of the Moldovan national weightlifting team in the village of Ivancea, Orhei district. “The most difficult part of the preparation is two training sessions, which we start at 11:00 and 17:00. Each one lasts two hours. I can say that in three months of training I managed to regain my best form. There is no point in going to the World Championships just to participate. Of course, I am going in order to bring [a medal] home,” Marin Robu told Moldova 1.
Robu compares participation in the World Championships to the Olympic Games and calls the fight for prizes impossible for some. His bronze medals at the World Championships in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) in 2021 and in Manama (Bahrain) last year, as well as his fourth place at the Paris Olympics, indicate that Moldova can count on the athlete’s triumphant performance this year as well.
Additional difficulties in the preparation of the 25-year-old athlete were connected with the recovery from the knee surgery he underwent in spring. Marin Robu sustained the injury at the European Weightlifting Championships at home, which brought him a silver medal in the 89 kg weight category.
At the upcoming World Championships, the weightlifter will compete in another category – up to 88 kg. According to coach Sergiu Kretzu, his ward has really gained excellent form and is ready for high results. “If he was in such a shape at the European Championships, there would be no questions about his result,” said the specialist, who is sure that Robu could well compete for a gold medal at the continental championship in Chisinau.
The coaching staff of the Moldovan national weightlifting team decided to send one Robu to Norway, thus allowing the rest of the athletes to prepare more thoroughly for the European Youth and Junior Championships. Fourteen Moldovan athletes will go to Durres (Albania), where the continental championships will be held from October 28 to November 4. According to Sergiu Cretu, it is very difficult for young people to take part in both tournaments, taking into account such a short interval between them.
The World Weightlifting Championship will last from October 2 to 11. More than 500 athletes from 89 countries will take part in it. The competition in the 88 kg category, in which Marin Robu is represented, will be held on October 7.
